Windows System Policy Editor

When you're searching for a way to standardize desktop settings, prevent
users from modifying the hardware and environment settings, or control or
restrict user actions, then you need to use the Windows policy editor. It gives
you the capability to create or edit local registry values.

How do you set up different security restrictions for each user? What do you
do if you want to set up a policy for a group rather than a single user? How do
you configure desktops for roving users so that any computer they use will have
the same look? Now that you have your network security, how do you protect your
computer if it is unplugged from the network? These are just a few of the
questions that Windows System Policy Editor will answer.

This book covers:

• Different types of system policies, what they control and how to modify them
  
• Installing the Policy Editor and Creating the policy file
  
• Setting default workstation security
  
• In-depth discussion of the Administrative files
  
• Security issues
  
• Troubleshooting
  
• The differences between the Win 95 and Win98 policy editor
  
• Procedures applied to a stand-alone computer as well as a networked computer
  

Computer security on publicly accessed computers has unique challenges, today
more than ever before, and if you're in charge of administering workstations in
a school, library, office, or any environment where increased security would be
invaluable, you'll benefit from reading this book.

Table of contents

Preface
Chapter 1: The Hidden Cost of Computers
Chapter 2: A System Policies Primer
Chapter 3: Preparation and Planning
Chapter 4: Building the Policy File
Chapter 5: It's Not Perfect
Chapter 6: Troubleshooting
Chapter 7: Standalone Windows 9x Workstations
Chapter 8: Creating a Custom Template
Chapter 9: The Policy Templates
Appendix A: Sample Acceptable Use Policy
Appendix B: Third-Party Security Programs
Index